Cardinals miss key pitches, signs, phone calls

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols pauses during a pitching change in the eighth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
— AP

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols pauses during a pitching change in the eighth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
/ AP

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Octavio Dotel reacts during the eighth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)— AP

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Octavio Dotel reacts during the eighth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
/ AP

St. Louis Cardinals' Nick Punto can't handle a ball hit by Texas Rangers' David Murphy during the eighth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)— AP

The St. Louis Cardinals bench watches during the ninth inning of Game 5 of baseball's against the Texas Rangers World Series Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
/ AP

St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina, left and Tony La Russa wait for relief pitcher Jason Motte to enter the game during the eighth of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)— AP

St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina, left and Tony La Russa wait for relief pitcher Jason Motte to enter the game during the eighth of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
/ AP

ARLINGTON, Texas 
The Cardinals couldn't get any key hits. Then again, they hardly got much right in a World Series game that turned slapstick for St. Louis.

Matt Holliday and Co. went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and their average was hardly much better with signs to baserunners and calls to the bullpen.

"It's not good to be down 3-2," Lance Berkman said after a 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night in which the Cardinals were done in by man and machine. "We'd rather be up 3-2, but we feel good."

Albert Pujols apparently called for a hit-and-run with the score 2-all in the seventh inning, then didn't swing as Allen Craig got caught stealing second.

What could have been an inning-ending, double-play grounder by David Murphy bounced off lefty Marc Rzepczynski and rolled toward second for an infield hit that brought up Mike Napoli with the bases loaded. His two-run double in the eighth put the Rangers ahead.

Pujols struck out in the ninth as Napoli threw out Craig trying to steal second again.

"We had chances but didn't come through," Pujols said. "Nothing you can do. Day off tomorrow and get ready to play on Wednesday."

And, it turns out, the Cardinals even botched their calls to the bullpen. Twice.

"It's a really tough loss because we had the opportunity to add the runs where you can make a mistake ... and you still win the game," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "So it's a very disappointing, frustrating loss."

On a night that was more Abbott & Costello than Tinker to Evers to Chance, the game will be remembered for a reach-out-and-touch-someone moment that La Russa would rather forget.

When he went to the mound to relieve Rzepczynski, he was shocked to find Lance Lynn had come in to pitch.